ML20005B276
| ML20005B276 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 06/15/1981 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Terrazas F PICO RIVERA, CA |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8107070054 | |
| Download: ML20005B276 (6) | |
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050003 1 NRC FORM 318410 BOI NRCM O240 N
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JUN 15 1981 Frank Terrazas, Mayor City of Pico Kivera P. O. box 1017 6615 Passons Boulevard Pico Rivera, California 90660
Dear Mayor Terrazas:
The June 1,1981 resolution (40. 2618) of the Pico Rivera City Council, supporting the licensing of the San Onofre 2 and 3 nuclear power plants has been referred to me for reply.
I am pleasea to provide the t'ollowing information regarding nuclear power plant licensing in general, and licensing of dan Onofre 2 and 3 in particular.
Since the THI-2 accident, a significant amount of the NRC resources have been concentrated on identifying the lessons to be learned from that accident and the associated requirements that are necessary and sufficient for the continued operation of licensed facilities and for the issuance of new operating licenses.
Tnat ef fort culninated with the issuance of the NRL's TNI Action Plan, approved in June 1980.
Tne development of that document and the NRC's increased attention to the safety in the 70 operating reactors took so mu h of our attention and our resources that we were unable to license new plants for a year af ter the accident.
Fol l owi ng the issuance of the Action Plan, new operating licenses were issued to Sequoyah and North Anna units late last suncer and to Farley, Unit 2 in.iarch of this year and to Salem Unit 2 in May of this year.
Currently, the overall picture is one of a licensing process that is returnin9 to predictability at a considerably enhanced level of safety. However, the implementation of this enhanced level of safety has roised a number of poter.tial new issues in the contested hearings for both operatin] licenses and construction permits around the country.
Some of these units were substantially complete at i
tne tire of the Three Mile Island accident or have been completed since then.
Thus, we do face a situation in which, for the first time, our hearin9s are or will be continuing for a significant number of plants that will be complete and ready to operate before the nearin s conclude.
a This situation is an indirect consequence of the ThI accident, wnich required a re-examination of the entire regulatory structure.
We are not satisfied with the prescit si tuation and we are working to find ways to accelerate the hearings on tnese plants whose continueu idleness prevents a substantial invest-ment from benefiting either the consumers or the operating utilities.
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DON I b 98 To that end, major improvements in the licensing process are underway or being considered. These improvements include:
Expedited and rescheduled review by the NRC staff for plants in the short term category--those presently complete and those to be completed in 1981 and 1982.
l Increased efficiency of the hearing process and subsequent Comission and Appeals Board review. The time now being taken between issuance of l
the supplecental staff evaluation report and initial decisions by licensing boards averages 18 months. The NRC believes it can compress that time to about 10 nonths by tightening up the times allowed for each part of the
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prehearing process and by providing firmer time management of the whole l
process.
The Comission is publishing for public comment proposea changes t
to its rules which would accompiisn this.
-- Changes in the review process the Comnission itself exercises over these cases have been adopted which will save at least two nonths in each case i
that has been in hearing.
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-- Early completion of NPC staff review for clants to be connleted in 1983 and beyond. This will require better scheduling of reviews and increased staff resources applied to casework.
Some staff resources can be redirected
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by deferring lower priority work and shif ting sore work to other NRC offices.
Before making such a change, the Comnission will carefully review the impact on other essential safaty-related activities.
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One further step to be considered is lecislation to authorize the Comission to issue limited, interim operating licenses before completion of hearings where f
all applicable safety requirements have been met.
In sumary, we are confident the actions we have taken and those we will take will provide major improvements in licensing schedules withcut conpronising the
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regulatory requirements for safety.
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With regard to licensing of San Onofre Units 2 and 3, the staff has completed the major part of its review.
Staff safety evaluat: 7ns were issued on Decenber 31, 1980, February 6,1981, February 25, 1981, and May 8,1931. The review of
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the San Onofre Units 2 and 3 by the Advisory Conmittee on Reactor Safeguards
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was completed on March 12, 1981.
The Final Environnental Statement was issued i
by the NRC staff in April,1991.
The hearina on this project is scheduled to begin on June 22, 1981.
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- g juN t 5 1981 We Oppreciate your interest in the San Onofre project. Please be assured that the NRC is taking every ~ reasonable action to expedite the licensing process, consistent with our cosaitment to ensure the public health and safety.
Sincerely
~Urigir.nl signe 3 b, Darrell G. Eisenhut Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulaticn DISTRIBUTION:
SEE NEXT PAGE.
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l NRC FORM 318110. 806 NRCM O240 OFFICIAL. RECORD COPY
e RESOLUTION NO.
2618 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PICO RIVERA SUPPORTING THE LICENSING OF SAN ONOFRE UNITS II AND III NUCLEAR PLANTS.
WHEREAS, the City Council is vitally concerned that the economic, environmental and social well-being of the State of California be maintained; and WHEREAS, an adequate supply of energy is critical to meeting California's economic and social needs while preserving the environmental gains of the past decade; and WHEREAS, this nation's continued overdependence on foreign off has caused major adverse economic impacts; and WHEREAS, there is a probability that instability in the Middle East will, at some near future time. result in reduced supplies _ of oil, thereby causing further social and economic chaos here at home; and WHEREAS, there must be a strong commitment to the conservation of the nation's limited resources and development of efficient and secure new sources of energy here at home; and WHEREAS, regulatory delays in the planning and licensing of needed energy facilities are costly to the consumer, damaging to the environment, and result in greater importation of foreign oil; NOW, THEREFORE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PICO
.RIVERA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
That this City Council supports the licensing of San Onofre Units II and III Nuclear Power Plants; development of alternative forms of energy such as solar, geothermal, and wind; and the continuing commitment to conservation of our energy resources.
SECTION 2.
That the subject action by the City Council appiies to the expansion of the existing facilities at San Onofre, and other matters relating to nuclear energy, including but not limited to licensing, shall be considered on their merits.
a SECTION 3.
The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of June
, 1981.
A/
em aa..so Fraut Tensidas, Mayo r/
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<ohn W.
Donlevy, City Cle y A
ROVED AS TO RM:
an.,
j 5 a, hse l S i e g el, C i ty KtTdrn ey
' AYES:
Councilmen Chave:, Gardner, Loehr, Patronite, Terra:as N0ES:
None ABSENT:
None ABSTAIN:
None
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